Grand final loss drives new Pie

Former Hawk still relives his untimely slip in the defensive goal square.

CLINTON Young has been using the pain of a grand final loss with his former club as a driving force in his pre-season at new club Collingwood.

The former Hawk still relives his untimely slip in the defensive goal square during a pivotal period of play in the final term of last year's grand final against the Swans. But ultimately, new scenery and a new environment has helped distract him from those events.

''You experience the high of winning a grand final [2008] but losing a grand final is pretty hard and that will certainly motivate me this year. I'm doing everything I can to make Collingwood a better team,'' Young said.

Young's renowned creativity and drive into goal from outside 50 metres may well produce a Supergoal or two on Friday night for his new club against Essendon and the Western Bulldogs in the NAB Cup opener at Etihad Stadium.

His release from the Hawks as a free agent is a bonus for the Pies and Young is confident he has plenty of good years ahead of him.

''The body's good. I had a good season last year. I had surgery [foot] at the end of the season, but it's coming good now and I can't wait to start my career at Collingwood,'' Young said.

''It [the transition to Collingwood] happened very quickly. I obviously had to deal with the grand final loss, had surgery and had to make the tough decision on my career. Ever since I've done that, I'm not looking back.''

Young said he was confident of entering round one of the season-proper fully fit.

Jackson Macrae is likely to be one of several youngsters to make their debuts as a Bulldog on Friday - and said he was well placed after his best pre-season yet.

''I'm in the best condition I've been all my life. I've put on five or six kilos throughout pre-season and I'm also improving my fitness as well, that's been really significant for me to still get stronger,'' Macrae said on Monday.